Canada takes u20 Tri-Nations Cup opener over USA

Four tries from captain Sophie de Goede led the way for Canada as they defeated the USA 36-12 at Acadia University on Tuesday evening. It was the first match of the u20 Women’s Tri-Nations Cup tournament that will see England join the competition later this week.

de Goede had her hat trick before the break, two coming off strong running from the back of a dominant scrum and the third a short range effort. Tausani Levale added one conversion. The Junior All-Americans replied with one try of their own through winger Alexandria Sedrick, who was on hand to finish off a series of pick-and-gos from in tight.

The second half started well for Canada with inside center Madison Gold breaking free. Reduced to 14 after Tiara A’au was sent to the bin, the USA could not hold out and Canada would score twice with the numerical advantage. A fourth for de Goede was followed by a single to outside center Niamh Houghey.

Emily Henrich would respond for the USA with a conversion from Natalie Gray. That would be the final try of the game with no scores coming in the final quarter when the humidity took its toll and replacements streamed into the match.

Canada will play England at the same venue on Friday evening. The USA will have the weekend off to recover and regroup before facing England in one week’s time.

SCORING

CANADA 36
Tries – S. de Goede 4, M. Gold, N. Haughey
Cons – T. Levale 3

USA 12
Tries – A. Sedrick, E. Henrich
Cons – N. Gray
Yellow cards – T. A’au

TEAMS

CANADA u20
1 Idia Ihensekien, 2 Mackenzie Carson, 3 Valerie Wideski, 4 Abby Duguid, 5 Keegan Branter, 6 Harley Tucker, 7 Courtney Holtkamp, 8 Sophie de Goede (capt.), 9 Sasha Guedes, 10 Tausani Levale, 11 Asia Hogan, 12 Madison Gold, 13 Niamh Houghey, 14 Hannah Daniels, 15 Brooke Bazian

Replacements: 16 Erika Barton, 17 Amelia Hatfield, 18 Maya Montiel, 19 Zoe Goodwin-Sutton, 20 Aly MacDougall, 21 Taylour Hurd, 22 Annie Kennedy, 23 Sarah-Maude Lachance

USA u20
1 Tiara A’au, 2 Destiny Arena, 3 Penina Tuilaepa, 4 McKenna Strong, 5 Natalie Gray, 6 Lauren Thunen, 7 Morgan Freeman, 8 Adi Tamaivena, 9 Olivia Ortiz, 10 Kayla Canett, 11 Alexandria Sedrick 12 Emily Henrich, 13 Mata Hingano (capt.), 14 Suiluana A’au, 15 Cassidy Bargell

Replacements: 16 Elisha Fromstein, 17 Isabel Manu, 18 Tori Jones, 19 Samantha Tancredi, 20 Aniya Matina, 21 Elizabeth Wilson, 22 Mary Jane Pasioles, 23 Sydnee Cervinski

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Moe Chaudhry (RC)